WARNING TO RESIDENTS
From:  GMarieW@aol.com
I live on Veazey Street behind UDC.  Want people to be aware.  Saturday
night two cars were broken into (that I know of) in less than a block (1
on Veazey and 1 on 37th  Street).  Thieves broke window and stole car
radios, ransacked glove box and took any other item of value in the
car.  I hear from a friend that the same thing happened on Rodman Street
last weekend.  Everyone needs to be aware.  I called and reported to
police, they came, took report and fingerprints.  Don't expect much in
the way of results as I know this kind of  crime is very difficult to
solve but think it is VERY important that they be  reported to the
police.

---------------------
 
 

THE FOLLOWING TWO ITEMS ARE THE TABLE OF CONTENTS TO COUNCILMEMBER
BRAZIL'S LATEST NEWSLETTER AND AN EDITED VERSION OF COUNCILMEMBER
PATTERSON'S LATEST NEWSLETTER.

FOR THE COMPLETE NEWSLETTERS, CONTACT THEIR OFFICES AT THE RELEVANT
E-MAIL ADDRESSES GIVEN BELOW.
 
 
 

NEWSLETTER FROM HAROLD BRAZIL
Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 11:29:16 -0400
From:   "White, Jessica (COUNCIL)" <JWHITE@dccouncil.washington.dc.us>
For the Week ending July 5, 2002
EMAIL: hbrazil@dccouncil.washington.dc.us or visit our website:
www.haroldbrazil.com

In this issue:
1.  Comcast Cable Agreement Approved by Council
        - Cable Television Reform Act of 2002
        - Cable Television Franchise of Comcast Approval Act of 2002
2.  Existing Convention Center RFP (Revised) Approved
        - Expansion potential for new Convention Center
        - Exclusive Rights Agreement
3.  Sports and Entertainment Commission Nominees Approved by Council
4.  Flag Bill Approved, With Amendment
        - "No Taxation Without Representation"
5.  Wilson Building Open House

------------------------------

WARD 3 NEWSLETTER #7
Councilmember Kathy Patterson (Ward 3)
Phone:  (202) 724-8062    Fax: (202) 724-8118
Email:  KPATTERSON@dccouncil.washington.dc.us

For more information, contact:
Penny Pagano   (202) 724-8062
Email: PPAGANO@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
<mailto:PPAGANO@dccouncil.washington.dc.us>

July 8, 2002
Email Newsletter #7
COUNCIL ACTIONS FROM JULY 2, 2002 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Key Council actions involved the Department of Motor Vehicles and a bill
entitled the "Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2001."

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
The Council approved an emergency measure that throws out all unpaid DC
parking tickets DC residents and others received before January 1,
1997.  I introduced an amendment to the bill to shorten the five-year
period to two years, but the amendment failed.

DMV claims to have nearly $350 million in unpaid tickets and fines.  Of
this, $95 million is from DC residents. The inquiries to my office, and
my own casework has convinced me that we are dealing with poor data.  In
most instances, these tickets likely were paid. I picked two years as
the cutoff for recovering unpaid tickets and fines because virtually
every motorist  has been "cleared" of past tickets by DMV within that
time period, either by renewing the registration for a vehicle or by
receiving a new driver's license.

While I do not want the District to lose any revenue it is owed, many
Council members including myself have serious reservations about the
amount of money, and whether it is actually owed.  Even Mayor Anthony
Williams, meeting with Councilmembers, referred to DMV records as "trash
receivables" that we are not likely ever to collect.

Mayor Williams is now considering whether to veto the emergency
legislation with the 5-year amnesty provision.

URBAN FOREST PRESERVATION ACT OF 2002
Better known as the "tree bill", this legislation would help us restore
and maintain the diminishing tree canopy across the city.  It is an
important piece of environmental legislation which underwent
considerable debate before the Council approved it on a first reading on
July 2. (We "read" or consider bills twice; the second reading and
presumably final passage is scheduled for September after the Council
summer recess). This  is an important issue for Ward 3, and throughout
the debate, my office stayed in close touch with neighborhood
representatives and environmental groups on this legislation.

I introduced two amendments, which were adopted by the Council on July
2.

The first amendment addresses residents' rights to their own property.
My amendment exempted owner-occupied homes from certain provisions of
the bill. My amendment, adopted by the Council on a 9-3 vote, exempts
private owner-occupied property from paying a reforestation fee for
construction projects on their property.  Without this amendment,
individual homeowners who wanted to do even minor construction on their
homes would have been prevented from doing so without paying a
"reforestation fee" of around $1,250 for removing a tree.  This
exemption applies ONLY to owner-occupied property.  Developers and
others must pay the fees, which I hope will be an inducement for them to
stop clearcutting lots and, instead, build houses
with more trees left intact.

The second amendment dealt with tax deductions for residents who plant
trees.  The legislation proposed a $300 tax deduction for purchasing and
planting trees that contribute to restoring the District's tree canopy.
Specifically, these trees must be capable of attaining a height of 50
feet and a width of 30 feet.  I proposed raising what was a per-tree
deduction to a $500 per tree deduction because it is important to offer
residents positive incentives to rebuild our city's tree canopy and help
improve our environment.  This was agreed to on a voice vote.

The tree bill will come back before the Council in September for a
second reading and these issues may be revisited.

IMPROVED CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS AMENDMENT ACT OF 2002
The Council unanimously approved legislation that I authored and
co-introduced with Councilmembers Sandy Allen and Kevin Chavous to
strengthen the District's investigations of child abuse and neglect.

The Improved Child Abuse Investigations Amendment Act of 2001 requires
an expansion of the use of multidisciplinary teams to investigate
serious abuse and corrects other shortcomings in District law that came
to light in a June 2001 hearing before the Judiciary Committee which I
chair.

A key provision in the bill changes the definition of child neglect to
include drug exposure and positive drug tests in newborns.  While
requiring hospitals and others to report positive drug tests and
permitting investigations by social workers, the bill's compromise
language does not mandate a finding of neglect based on drug exposure
alone.  For additional information, please check my Ward 3 Council
website.  Click on www.dc.gov <http://www.dc.gov>, and then click on DC
Council and then my homepage.

CIVIL COMMITMENT OF CITIZENS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION AMENDMENT ACT OF
2002
The Council approved legislation to establish an involuntary commitment
procedure for individuals who have been charged with a crime of violence
or sex offense, but found incompetent to stand trial due to mental
retardation. Emergency legislation was previously approved on June 4 in
order to ensure public safety and protect the community from individuals
who may be dangerous to others without treatment or supervision. The
permanent legislation enacted at the July 2 legislative session will
take effect after the emergency legislation expires in 90 days.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS LAWS CLARIFICATION ACT OF 2002
The Council unanimously passed the Domestic Relations Laws Clarification
Act of 2002, a bill I introduced in February 2002. The legislation
reorganizes, streamlines and updates domestic relations law relating to
divorce, alimony, custody and child support.  These amendments to
current law became necessary because the piecemeal reforms to the
District's domestic relations laws left inconsistencies, unnecessary
duplication and disjointed construction. The changes will make the
District's law more responsive to modern needs, including authorizing
the use of term-limited alimony and requiring a consideration of tax
consequences in valuing and distributing property. The legislation
allows divorces to become effective immediately if both parties concur.

"A HARD LOOK AT A DOUBLE HOMICIDE"
Excerpt from The Washington Post column by Colbert I. King, Saturday,
July
6, 2002
"... Ward 3 council member Kathy Patterson doesn't have a short
attention span. She wants to know if any government official or
institution is culpable in those horrific June 14 murders.  Patterson's
in a good position to ask. She chairs the council's Judiciary Committee,
which oversees the District's criminal justice system.  She's also a
member of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council - a panel of federal
and District officials, including Mayor Anthony Williams, that's charged
with examining public safety policies in the District."

GROUNDBREAKING FOR ENGINE 20 TENLEYTOWN FIRE STATION
On June 20, 2002, I joined Mayor Williams, Deputy Mayor Margret Kellems
and outgoing Fire Chief Ronnie Few for a groundbreaking for a new
Tenleytown Firehouse at 4300 Wisconsin Avenue. The project is expected
to take 14 months.  I continue to work with fire officials and community
leaders to assure that all of the equipment from Engine 20 stays in Ward
3.  With my efforts, fire officials are working actively with the Naval
Security Station on Nebraska Avenue to house equipment there.

WEST NILE VIRUS UPDATE
Here is the latest news release on the West Nile Virus in the District
from the Department of Health:

July 5, 2002
West Nile Virus Update
(Washington, DC) - The Department of Health (DOH) reports today that 10
more dead birds found in the District have tested positive for the West
Nile Virus (WNV). The most recent birds found bring the total number of
birds testing positive to 16.

The birds were picked up from Wards 3, 4 and 7 at the 2900 blk Courtland
Pl, NW, 3400 blk Whitehaven St, NW, 5700 blk MacArthur Blvd, NW, 3800
blk Beecher St, NW, 3100 blk Quebec Pl, NW, 50 blk 49th St, NE, 50 blk
49th Pl, NE, 3800 blk Calvert St, NW, 2800 blk 38th St, NW, and 2700 blk
Woodley Pl, NW. The birds were sent to the Maryland State Laboratory for
testing.

In response, DOH has distributed literature, larvacide, and spoken with
residents. In addition, DOH has identified sites to collect mosquitoes,
near those locations, for testing.

To date, there have been NO HUMAN CASES of WNV in the District. However,
last year three hundred sixty (360) birds and three (3) mosquito pools
tested positive for WNV in the District. DOH is asking residents and
businesses to help reduce the risk of the WNV by eliminating
mosquito-breeding sites around their homes and businesses.

Washington residents who find dead crows, blue jays, hawks and eagles
that have not been the victims of collisions with an automobile or
attacks from other birds are asked to call DOH West Nile Virus call
center at (202) 535-2323 for pick up. Residents are encouraged to report
the location of dead birds and include return contact information in the
message. It is not recommended that residents handle dead birds.

For more information about the West Nile Virus, visit the DOH website at
dchealth.dc.gov </information/fact_sheets/westnilevirus.shtm>.
 

BACK-TO-SCHOOL TAX-FREE SHOPPING
The Council approved a sales tax holiday from August 9-August 18 for
clothing and school supplies costing less than $100 per item.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Grants for the Arts:  The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities will
award grants to support DC artists and arts and community organizations.
Deadlines for the various grants extend to Dec. 5, 2002.  For more
information about the grants for specific program areas, call
(202)724-5613 or visit <http://dcarts.dc.gov>
 
MASTER BUSINESS LICENSE
Beginning September 1, 2002, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory
Affairs will begin enforcing the new Master Business License
requirements. Any business or individual, including a non-profit
organization, that earns more than $2,000 a year in gross receipts in
the District MUST have a Master Business License.  (Churches and
religious organizations are exempt.) The Master Business License was
established under the Omnibus Regulatory Reform Act of 1999.  Failure to
obtain a Master Business License could result in a $500 fine.  For
further information, call (202) 442-4311.  You can also get an online
application and tutorial at the District's Business Resource Center,
www.brc.dc.gov <http://www.brc.dc.gov> or online chat at www.dcra.dc.gov
<http://www.dcra.dc.gov> Applications can also be picked up at the
Business Resource Center at 941 N. Capital Street, NE, Room 1100, Monday
through Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:15 pm.

During the summer months, District agencies will conduct workshops on
their online licensing, tax and business information services.  The "DC
Business Tools Roadshow" will brief businesses and nonprofits on the
Business Resource Center, Master Business License, and Electronic Tax
Service Center. The District's Office of the Chief Technology Officer
(OCTO), Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), and the
Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) are cooperating to conduct the one-hour
workshop in all eight District wards.  Agency representatives will be
available to answer questions following the presentations.  The date for
the Ward 3 event is yet to be determined.  For more information, send an
email to brc.alert@dc.gov <mailto:brc.alert@dc.gov> or leave a voice
mail at (202) 727-2370.  Event updates will also be posted at
www.brc.dc.gov/roadshow <http://www.brc.dc.gov/roadshow>
 

--END